The annual celebration of gastronomy that is Westport Food Festival takes place from Friday, June 23, to Sunday, June 25. The organisers are promising a programme with something for all ages, from mini chefs right up to fully fledged foodies. The highlight of the busy festival weekend is an exclusive Midsummer Banquet at Westport House. Fittingly, Westport House was the location for the launch by Michael Ring, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development.

Michael Ring T.D., Minister of State for Regional Economic Development at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs yesterday (Thursday) announced the provision of funding of €34,600 for the enhancement of the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail over two projects.

Michael Ring, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, has announced the provision of funding of €167,406 for the delivery of a number of Rural Recreation projects in Co Mayo through a combination of trail maintenance and development by Mayo County Council, South West Mayo Development, and Coillte.

Michael Ring, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on Monday turned the sod and laid a brick on the new Mulranny Activity and Tourism Information Centre.

Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring TD was onboard last week to launch Westport’s superb traditional music, song and dance show The Legend of Gráinne Mhaol at Westport Town Hall. The show based on the real life story of Ireland’s Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley is returning this summer to the state-of-the-art Westport Town Hall theatre every Wednesday and Thursday from June 15.

For more than 25 years Mayo Mountain Rescue has had dreams, big dreams, of one day being able to call some place home, having a base to meet, train, store equipment, and run the team from. There have been many attempts by a lot of members over the years in securing a premises for the team, however dreams don’t happen over night.

Michael Ring, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Cllr Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, officially opened the new Mulranny footpath and village enhancement scheme last Friday morning. The multi-million euro development consisted of 1.8 kilometres of improvements to the N59 comprising new footpaths, traffic calming, pavements, a viewing promenade, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, picnic tables, and benches.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that €181,000 being provided for community centres in Mayo will be put to extremely good use. This is part of a €3.2 million funding announcement by the Department of Social Protection to support the operation of community centres and facilities for 91 not-for-profit companies nationally.